THE AMERICAN FRIEND
Dedicated to Henri Langlois
Ladies and gentlemen, we now come to the high point
of the auction.
A particularly fine later Derwatt.
May I see it again? Thank you.
As you know, there are few Derwatts left on the market.
This may be your last chance.
Lot 132... Derwatt.
I have several written bids.
I'll start at 17,500 marks.
Anyone else?
17,500 marks.
18,000... 19,000...
20,000... 22,000.
24,000. 25,000.
26,000.
Going once, going twice —
27,000. Are you still bidding?
28,000.
30,000 marks. Anyone else?
I wouldn't go so high.
I have my doubts about it.
I spent three days framing it. Look at the colors.
The blue's not right
compared to other Derwatts.
It'll be a sure thing in America.
"A sure thing in America."
They'll snatch it up in Texas.
36,000... 38,000.
Please be sure I can see your bid.
42,000.
44,000.
Going once —
46,000.
48,000.
50,000.
52,000.
54,000 D-Mark.
56,000.
You are still bidding?
58,000 marks.
You're still bidding?
Going once, going twice —
60,000. Anyone else?
Are you still bidding? 60,000.
Are you still bidding?
Going once, going twice —
62,000. Anyone else?
62,000 marks. No one else?
Going once, twice...
sold!
62,000 marks, Mr. Winter.
Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.
We'll take a 15-minute break.
Help yourselves to refreshments.
Satisfied?
Very.
- How's Daniel? - Fine.
Will you take the painting with you?
- This didn't reach our reserve price. - Again.
Don't let it bother you.
Mr. Zimmermann is under a lot of pressure.
He's a good picture framer...
but no longer a competent restorer.
Why's that?
He's ill.
A blood disease.
No hope of recovery.
And his treatment is expensive.
His wife has to help support them.
I know you're not asleep.
Where were you?
What woke you up?
The noisy trucks.
We're home for good now.
Good night.
Sleep well.
Can I have the light on?
Sure.
Cut the crap, Tom.
I believe we said 60 marks.
I'm afraid it came to a bit more.
Mother left it to me. My brother has no eye for art.
It's another 20 marks.
No, it'll fit in my purse just fine.
Eighty marks.
I'm very pleased with it.
God, you're a sly one!
- I'll put it up in its old place. - Right.
Thank you so much. It's lovely.
- It's a beautiful picture. - It was my mother's.
Good-bye.
All the best.
Eighty marks!
My German is terrible.
Make me a frame.
A frame?
That's good.
With your left hand. Daniel, no!
Jonathan.
Your left hand.
You were dreaming.
"Jonathan...
I was shocked to hear
that your blood disease has gotten worse.
I was embarrassed to speak to you about it.
If money is a problem, let me know.
I'll be back in New York in three weeks."
That's right. He's in Canada.
"What are friends for? Yours, Allan."
Written at the airport.
"...that your illness has quickly gotten worse."
He could have told me in the car.
Who told him this? I should be the first to know.
BACK SHORTLY
Ah, my most interesting patient.
But I have no time to see you now.
I just need a minute.
Were the results of my last examination particularly unfavorable?
You saw the test reports,
and we discussed them.
There are no alarming developments.
Are you feeling worse? - No.
Not at all.
It's just that...
a friend of mine heard somewhere that I don't have...
much longer to live.
Mr. Zimmermann...
where did this friend hear such nonsense?
Certainly not from me.
Your condition remains unchanged.
Everything else is just rumormongering.
Marianne?
Your wife went to the post office.
You spoke to Allan Winter before the auction yesterday.
That's right. What about it?
Did you talk about me?
No. Why?
- You know about my illness. - But I'd never discuss it.
Someone's been spreading some ridiculous hogwash about me.
I'm sure it wasn't done maliciously.
Hello, Mr. Zimmermann.
My name is Raoul Duplat.
You don't know me.
Vous parlez français? - No.
You're out of breath.
You know you mustn't overexert yourself.
So you noticed. - Noticed what?
- You left your scarf and cap. - Did I?
I came to ask you to do the next sternal puncture.
I was just going home.
Please.
It would put my mind at ease.
Mr. Zimmermann, I wanted to tell you earlier.
In your situation there is no certainty.
No doctor in the world could guarantee you
five years, one year, a month.
Where could he have heard that?
Dr. Gabriel says it's nonsense.
He says I shouldn't worry.
My condition is unchanged.
It's just a rumor.
Gantner knows nothing about it — or so he says.
Daniel's probably awake.
Will he remember me?
"My father had a mustache.
We lived near the harbor in a building that's been torn down."
It's starting all over again.
Last time was three months ago.
Dr. Gabriel!
I was on my way to see you. Any word on the tests?
The results can't possibly be ready yet.
We just sent the samples to the lab this morning.
Perhaps tomorrow or the next day.
- Maybe they're ready now. - Impossible.
Check with me in two days.
Two days.
You could call them now.
Sometimes I don't understand you anymore.
There's no point calling. There are no results yet.
Anyway, they'll be the same as last time.
What if they're worse?
Sometimes I think that's what you want.
- I'm going to Paris. - Why?
A client got me an appointment
at a hospital there.
They have specialists.
- You're leaving tonight? - Tomorrow morning.
Gotta be at the airport before 7:00 for a 7:30 flight.
All because of that telegram?
It really got me worried.
I'd like to know where things really stand.
If I put it off, I'll never do it.
Suppose the telegram wasn't from Allan?
Who else would have sent it?
Mommy, shall I answer it?
Yes. Ask who it is.
No, just my mother.
The doctor.
Coming.
She isn't here yet. She's coming.
Dummy! You look in the side, not the top.
Dummy yourself!
Daniel, be careful with those things.
He isn't here today. He's in Paris.
I thought you knew.
Any message for him?
Is the Reeperbahn still as exciting?
- Are you Swiss? - I studied medicine in Berne.
But you're Swiss too.
A Zürich boy.
Good. Then you can stand a lot.
Oh, good. This is it.
A coffee.
Did you hurt yourself?
Thanks.
Hi.
We saw you from the window.
- I suspected you'd be back this morning. - I took the first plane.
- What's that cut? - Nothing serious.
- Did you bring me anything? - I'm sorry. I had no time.
- Were you bleeding? - A bit. Nothing serious.
Michael didn't believe you'd gone to...
Paris!
It's true. I went to Paris.
What did the doctors say?
They can't say if it's worse until they've seen my case notes.
Gabriel has to send them.
We have to go. Come here.
See you later.
There wasn't time to tell you this morning.
The doctors in Paris sort of advanced me some money,
because I'll probably have to go back.
That must mean it's serious,
or they wouldn't give you money.
They're taking a risk, and so am I.
And if it's successful?
If it's successful?
Then I can live a few more years.
That was the specialist in Paris.
He'll be here tomorrow on business
and he wants to see me.
He wants to proceed with the treatment.
I don't believe you.
What?
I simply don't believe you.
You went to Paris for some other reason.
What sort of reason?
How would I know? You don't tell me anything.
Count me out.
Munich.
We have to be going. It'll be half an hour in this traffic.
Have a good trip.
A present?
I gave him one when he brought the engraving.
You seem to know him well.
Train station.
- A letter for Zimmermann. - Thank you.
A friend is in there.
He's sick. It's a friend of ours.
It's occupied.
Ticket, please.
Just a minute.
This time I brought you something.
What's that?
It spins around.
It's called a gyroscope.
Your hand shook, but you did it.
I've had enough! Who was that?
Your specialist again?
I want you to tell me the truth.
And don't say you had a checkup — not on a Sunday!
I'm sure your sudden trips
are part of Gantner and Ripley's crooked deals.
What dirty work are you doing? What are they paying you?
Be quiet.
I've had enough of your lying and skulking around.
Please be quiet.
I feel so deserted and betrayed.
The worst part is you're using your illness to deceive me.
Fine! I don't care what you do with your American friend!
Be glad you know nothing about this.
No, that's not so.
Why were you on the train?
You really don't want anything?
"I've heard of you."
97,000 marks. Where'd it come from?
The doctors in Paris and Munich made a bet.
A bet on my life, so to speak.
Who do you think will win?
These are the stakes.
You're crazy.
I get nothing out of it.
That son of a bitch.
I looked for you everywhere.
Let's go home.
We can discuss everything...
calmly.
I talked to Dr. Gabriel.
They tricked you in Paris.
Those medical reports were faked.
Come on.
You don't have to explain now.
- Try to sleep a bit. - Sure it's okay?
Where's he headed?
I don't know.
I think to the sea.
Maybe I should drive.
I'll make it to Hamburg...
back to Daniel.
One day you'll have to explain everything to him.
Marianne, it's getting so dark.
THE AMERICAN FRIEND